Drawer guide construction

ABSTRACT

A channel member secured to the underside of a drawer cooperates with a T-shaped guide rail to prevent inadvertent removal of a drawer from a furniture frame. Protuberances on the laterally extending ears of the T-shaped rail cooperate with indentations on the opposed sidewalls of the channel member to limit displacement of the channel member relative to the rail.

United States Patent Allred Mar. 7, 1972 [54] DRAWER GUIDE CONSTRUCTION 3,363,960 1/1968 Reiss etal ..308/3.6

3,328,107 6/1967 Gutner ..308/3.6 [72] Invent Bbby Auredflgh 3,185,530 5/1965 Reiss, Sr. et a1. .....308/3.6 [73] Assignee: Allred Metal Stamping Works, Inc., High 2,559,322 7/1951 Skamser ..308/3.6

Point, N.C.

- Primary Examiner-Martin P. Schwadron 1970 [22] Filed Jan Assistant Examiner-R. H. Lazarus 1 1 pp 4,910 AttarneyDavid Rabin 52] U.S.C1 ..308/3.6,3l2/346,3l2/342, 1571 ABSTRACT [51] I Cl Flag 9 A channel member secured to the underside of a drawer l1 cooperates with a T shaped guide rail to prevent inadvertent [58] new of Search "308/35; 3 removal of a drawer from a furniture frame. Protuberances on M2538 34 the laterally extending ears of the T-shaped rail cooperate with indentations on the opposed sidewalls of the channel [56] References C'ted member to limit displacement of the channel member relative UNITED STATES PATENTS to the fall- Niemi ..308/3.6

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIEN-TEDMAR 7 1972 3. 647. 2 71 IN VEN TOR BOBBY JOE ALL RED DRAWER GUIDE CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND, BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to drawer guide constructions of the type used in furniture and more particularly to a drawer guide member which cooperates with a rail member mounted in a furniture frame.

Usually the drawer guide construction is arranged centrally of the drawer for guiding the drawer both laterally and vertically during sliding movement.

The guide construction normally includes a guide rail fixed to the furniture frame structure centrally of the drawer opening and extending from the front to the rear thereof, and a guide member which is secured to the bottom of the drawer. The guide rail and guide member are formed with complemental abutting surfaces whereby the members cooperate to guide the drawer in both horizontal and vertical directions.

While these guide constructions provide a means for effectively guiding a drawer and for limiting downward tilting of the drawer when the same is extended, generally they are deficient in providing a simple, reliable means to limit the opening of the drawer to a predetermined location.

In accordance with the present invention, a generally T- shaped guide rail is located below the drawer bottom wall intermediate the drawer opening and is supported by the fumiture frame or housing. A channel or C-shaped guide member, preferably constructed of metal, is fixed beneath the drawer bottom wall for slidably cooperating with the T-shaped guide rail. Suitable means are provided at each end of the channel member for securing the same to the front and rear walls, respectively, of a drawer.

Each end of the channel member is provided with opposed indentations located on the interior sides of the channel. The indentations tend to align the channel member with the fixed guide rail thus assuring that the drawer will square itself with respect to a horizontal skew as it comes home in the opening defined by the furniture frame or housing thus preventing chipping or marring of the drawer front or the furniture frame front as the edges of the drawer and frame contact each other.

The opposed indentations adjacent the drawer rear wall extend inwardly further than the indentations adjacent the drawer front wall for cooperating with stop means secured to the guide rail. The stop means which is fixed to the rail adjacent the furniture front crossrails, cooperates with the rearwardmost indentations to limit the outward movement of a drawer and prevent accidental displacement from the frame. However, a further pull on the drawer will permit the indentations and channel to expand slightly permitting the same to slide over the stop member to allow the drawer to be entirely removed from the fumiture frame if desired.

One of the primary objects of the invention is the provision of detent means for releasably locking a drawer guide member and guide rail relative to each other.

Another object of the invention is a novel drawer guide construction for guiding a, drawer during reciprocation and for eliminating accidental withdrawal of the drawer from a fumiture frame.

A further object of the invention is the provision of detent means arranged in a novel manner on the drawer guide construction whereby the drawer may be quickly and easily released from the furniture frame once its removal is desired.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of slidable guide means for minimizing sideplay of the drawer during reciprocation and for minimizing tilting of the drawer when extended.

Another feature of the invention is a drawer guide construction. which is effective and efficient in operation and which may be economically produced.

These and other objects of the invention will be readily apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a chest of drawers or the like;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the guide construction taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the forward end portion of the guide channel member illustrating the means for facilitating securement of the channel member to the drawer front;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the channel member illustrating detent means and a tab for securing the rear portion of the channel member to the drawer rear wall;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the forward end portion of the guide rail having detent means secured thereto;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional plan view illustrating the cooperation of the detent means for preventing accidental displacement of a drawer from the furniture frame;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional, top plan view illustrating the channel member forced to an expanded condition by the stop means for permitting complete removal of a drawer from the frame; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective of the forward end of the guide rail having a modified stop means provided thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawing, reference numeral 10 designates a chest or other housing having a plurality of slidable drawers 12 therein. The drawers 12 are supported by front crossrails 14, rear crossrails 16, side members 18, and siderails, not shown. Stationary rails 20 which are positioned under the drawers 12 intermediate the width thereof serve to support and guide the drawers as they are moved inwardly or outwardly.

Each drawer 12 is of a conventional type having a front wall 22, sidewalls, not shown, backwall 24 and a bottom wall 26 secured together in a conventional manner.

The drawer I2 is provided with a special guide member 28 which is secured beneath the drawer bottom wall 26. The guide member 28 preferably is channeled or C-shaped and extends from the front wall 22 to the backwall 24 of the drawer. A lip portion 30 and horizontally spaced pointed projections 32 fasten the forward end portion of the channel member 28 to the front wall 22. The lip portion 30 extends below bottom wall 26 into a saw cut provided on the innerface of drawer front 22 and the projections 32 are forced into the drawer front until the forward edges 37 of the channel member abut the front wall 22. The rear portion of the channel member is attached to the backwall 24 by a tab 36 which extends at a right angle with respect to the channel member. A screw or other suitable fastener 38 extends through opening 40 for securing the tab 36 to the drawer backwall 24.

The channel member 28 preferably is of integral metal construction including a transverse wall 42, sidewalls 44 depending therefrom at substantially right angles thereto, and inwardly directed flange members 46 which extend substantially parallel to the transverse wall. The channel member 28 partially envelops the laterally extending ears 52 of the T-shaped guide rail 20 for sliding movement thereon. indentations 48 and 50 are provided on each of the sidewalls 44 adjacent the end portions of the channel member to minimize the slack or sideplay between the channel member 28 and the guide rail 20.

The indentations 48 are provided by deforming the sidewalls 44 inwardly and serve to form a relatively tight fit between the rail 20 and channel 28 when the drawer is closed. Indentations 50 are slightly deeper than indentations 48 for cooperating with a stop member 54 to prevent inadvertent removal of the drawer from the frame.

The stop member 54 is of generallyU-shaped construction adapted to be mounted on T-shaped guide rail 20 by a suitable fastener 56.

In the operation of the slide construction, the drawer l2 having channel member 28 secured thereto is displaced relative to fixed guide rail 20 to open the drawer. The channel member and guide rail cooperate to guide the drawer in its reciprocation and to limit horizontal and vertical displacement of the drawer relative to the guide rail. The indentations 48 are spaced apart sufficiently to permit free movement of the channel member over the fixed stop member 54. When the drawer and channel 28 are guided to a near fully opened position as shown by FIG. 6, the indentations 50 on sidewalls 44 abut the stop member sidewalls 58 preventing I accidental withdrawal of the drawer from the frame. When it is necessary or desirable to remove the drawer completely from the frame, a further pull on the drawer will urge cam channel member indentations 50 and consequently sidewalls 44 outwardly as the indentations are displaced over the stop member sidewalls 58, as shown by FIG. 7. The innermost edge portions 60 of the channel member are flared outwardly to facilitate alignment of the guide rail 20 when replacing the drawer within the furniture frame.

FIG. 8 illustrates an end portion of the guide rail 20 having a modified stop means comprising an outwardly directed projection 62 mounted on each of the laterally extending ears 52. The projections 62 cooperate with indentations 50 in a manner similar to that of the stop member 54.

While the channel member and guide rail have been disclosed as being constructed of metal and wood, respectively, it is obvious that the various elements may be constructed of other suitable materials. Further, while the drawer construction has been disclosed with the guide rail and the guide member secured to a furniture frame and a drawer, respectively, it is to be understood that the guide rail could be mounted on the drawer and the guide member secured to the frame with equally satisfactory results.

lclaim:

l. A drawer guiding system for a drawer slidably positioned within a furniture frame of case goods comprising: a rail member adapted to be secured in juxtaposition to a drawer and frame, a guide channel member adapted to be slidably mounted on said rail member and cooperating detent means on said rail member and said guide channel member to limit relative displacement of said guide channel member and said rail member for preventing accidental displacement of the drawer from the frame, said detent means including opposed pairs of interlocking surfaces positioned on said rail member and the interior portions of said guide channel member.

2. A drawer guiding system as defined in claim 1, said detent means comprising indentations on said guide channel member and a protuberance on said rail.

3. A drawer guiding system as defined in claim 1, said guide channel member being of substantially C-shaped construction for partially enveloping said rail member to limit horizontal and vertical displacement of said guide channel member relative to said rail member.

4. A drawer guiding system as defined in claim 3, said guide channel member further including indentations for minimizing horizontal sideplay between said guide channel member and said rail member.

5. A drawer guiding system as defined in claim 2, said indentations being provided on opposed sides of said guide channel member for cooperating with said rail member to minimize horizontal sideplay between said members.

6. A drawer guiding system as defined in claim I, wherein said guide channel member includes means for facilitating securement thereof to a drawer, said guide rail adapted to be secured to a furniture frame.

7. A drawer guiding system as defined in claim 6, said detent means including indentations provided adjacent one end of said guide channel member and a stop means provided adjacent an end portion of said rail member. 

1. A drawer guiding system for a drawer slidably positioned within a furniture frame of case goods comprising: a rail member adapted to be secured in juxtaposition to a drawer and frame, a guide channel member adapted to be slidably mounted on said rail member and cooperating detent means on said rail member and said guide channel member to limit relative displacement of said guide channel member and said rail member for preventing accidental displacement of the drawer from the frame, said detent means including opposed pairs of interlocking surfaces positioned on said rail member and the interior portions of said guide channel member.
 2. A drawer guiding system as defined in claim 1, said detent means comprising indentations on said guide channel member and a protuberance on said rail.
 3. A drawer guiding system as defined in claim 1, said guide channel member being of substantially C-shaped construction for partially enveloping said rail member to limit horizontal and vertical displacement of said guide channel member relative to said rail member.
 4. A drawer guiding system as defined in claim 3, said guide channel member further including indentations for minimizing horizontal sideplay between said guide channel member and said rail member.
 5. A drawer guiding system as defined in claim 2, said indentations being provided on opposed sides of said guide channel member For cooperating with said rail member to minimize horizontal sideplay between said members.
 6. A drawer guiding system as defined in claim 1, wherein said guide channel member includes means for facilitating securement thereof to a drawer, said guide rail adapted to be secured to a furniture frame.
 7. A drawer guiding system as defined in claim 6, said detent means including indentations provided adjacent one end of said guide channel member and a stop means provided adjacent an end portion of said rail member. 